Moynihan Train Hall

Moynihan Train Hall

Company type	Public transportation facility
Industry	Transportation, Rail transport
Founded	2021-01-01
Headquarters	New York City, New York , United States
Area served	New York City metropolitan area
Products	Passenger rail services, retail outlets
Owner	New York State (implied)

Moynihan Train Hall represents an extension of Penn Station, the principal intercity and commuter rail terminal in New York City, by transforming the former James A. Farley Building post office. Located in Midtown Manhattan between Eighth and Ninth Avenues and stretching from 31st to 33rd Streets, this addition grants passengers of Amtrak and the Long Island Rail Road access to 17 out of Penn Station's 21 tracks. The hall is named in honor of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who was a key advocate for the initiative. Its Beaux-Arts façade pays homage to the original Penn Station, both structures having been designed by McKim, Mead & White.

This facility was developed to alleviate the heavy congestion experienced at Penn Station, which accommodated approximately 650,000 daily travelers before the pandemic. The project, costing $1.6 billion, involved restoring the historic Farley Building and introducing a central atrium topped with a glass roof. Moynihan Train Hall includes retail outlets, a waiting area seating 320 ticketed passengers, and public restrooms, all accentuated by three significant art installations: the ceiling triptych Go, photographic panel series, and a sculptural ensemble.

The concept originated in the early 1990s with preliminary designs unveiled in 1993 but encountered financial and logistical obstacles. After Amtrak withdrew as a tenant in 2004, it rejoined following New York State’s purchase of the Farley Building in 2006. The first phase expanded a concourse beneath the Farley Building from 2010 until June 2017; construction of the train hall itself commenced in 2017 and culminated with its opening on January 1, 2021.

Description

Moynihan Train Hall occupies a portion of the James A. Farley Building, a Beaux-Arts edifice designed by McKim, Mead & White—the same architects responsible for the original Penn Station—which opened in 1914 as New York City's main postal facility. This building covers an entire city block opposite Penn Station’s current structures along Eighth Avenue and is bordered by Eighth Avenue, 31st Street, Ninth Avenue, and 33rd Street. The Farley Building holds status as a New York City designated landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The train hall occupies what used to be part of the mail sorting area, while much of the remaining space within the building is leased as office premises by Meta Platforms.

Components

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the complex features a passenger concourse beneath an expansive glass skylight. A distinctive four-faced clock measuring 12 feet in height and over 6 feet wide on each side serves as a focal point within the concourse. The hall accommodates retail space totaling . Moynihan Train Hall primarily caters to Amtrak passengers, providing ticketing services, baggage handling, waiting lounges, conference rooms, and a balcony standing 20 feet above that overlooks the hall.

The Public Art Program at Moynihan Train Hall presents both permanent and rotating artworks, including digital video pieces. Permanent works feature Kehinde Wiley's stained-glass ceiling triptych Go; Stan Douglas's photographic series Penn Station's Half Century displayed along an 80-foot wall; and Elmgreen & Dragset's sculpture group The Hive positioned at the entrance on 31st Street.

An enlargement of the existing West End Concourse beneath the eastern section of the Farley Building forms part of this development. This expanded concourse serves nine out of Pennsylvania Station's eleven platforms and introduced new street-level entrances at the southeast and northeast corners of the Farley Building. Originally built in 1994 during renovations to accommodate Long Island Rail Road operations, it now provides access to seventeen tracks served by Moynihan Train Hall. The walls are adorned with imagery depicting New York City's architecture and landscapes. This expansion was completed in 2017 and marked the initial phase of Moynihan Train Hall's opening.

Service

Moynihan Train Hall accommodates 17 out of the 21 tracks at Penn Station, serving both the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Amtrak. The four southernmost tracks, which are designated for NJ Transit, remain disconnected from this hall. The facility offers entry and customer support exclusively for LIRR and Amtrak services, while the original Penn Station building continues to function as an alternative entrance, particularly when Moynihan Train Hall is closed. Future developments include plans to integrate Metro-North Railroad service through the Penn Station Access initiative.

This hall expanded the concourse area of Penn Station by half, aiming to alleviate congestion experienced by the station’s approximately 650,000 daily passengers before the pandemic. Initially, the space was anticipated to primarily serve Amtrak travelers—who represent roughly five percent of daily users—whereas most commuters using LIRR, NJ Transit, and the New York City Subway still rely on the older facilities located near the Seventh and Eighth Avenue subway stops.

1990s

During the early 1990s, U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan advocated for reconstructing a replica of the original Penn Station within the Farley Post Office building, where he had been employed during the Great Depression. At that period, Penn Station was operating beyond capacity, and the United States Postal Service planned to relocate a significant portion of its operations from the Farley facility. The architectural firm Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum (HOK) proposed a design featuring a 120-foot-high parabolic arch roof spanning a passenger concourse situated in the former sorting room. Moynihan sought $100 million in funding; President Bill Clinton allocated $10 million in federal funds as part of earthquake relief efforts, but Congress ultimately approved only $50 million in total. Due to concerns about funding authorization and matching contributions, $10 million was designated for design development while $40 million was used for materials and building renovations.

In 1995, the Empire State Development Corporation established the Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Corporation to manage acquisition and refurbishment of the building. Initially capitalized with $300,000, it successfully raised $670 million over a decade. By 1998, plans were under evaluation supported by an $11.7 million federal budget allocation. An agreement permitted USPS to maintain occupancy of part of the Farley Building while transferring another section for use as a new train hall. The corporation appointed SOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff as lead firms for design and engineering responsibilities.

By December 1998, a general concept had been finalized with an anticipated completion date set for December 2002 at an estimated cost of $315 million. David Childs from SOM proposed removing the sorting room floor to create a multi-tiered concourse offering views of tracks below along with a skylight overhead; this design preserved original roof trusses while partially dismantling portions of the roof structure. The intermodal hall was planned to extend between 31st and 33rd Streets and would feature a curved truss wall rising 150 feet high. Cost projections increased to $488 million; New York City pledged $25 million in support but Mayor Rudy Giuliani voiced concerns regarding potential budget overruns. Later in 1999, Congress allocated an additional $60 million. Senator Charles Schumer introduced legislation to name the facility "Daniel Patrick Moynihan Station" in honor of Moynihan’s retirement that year; however, this effort did not succeed.

2000s

By February 2000, the budget for the project had escalated to $788 million, which included $188 million allocated for infrastructure improvements, with construction anticipated to start later that year. In early 2001, Fraport and the Staubach Company created a joint venture to develop the Farley train hall; however, construction was postponed until late 2001. Although the USPS committed $150 million, it suspended funding due to financial difficulties following the September 11 attacks, while still expressing ongoing interest. Numerous USPS operations were relocated to the Farley Building after damage occurred at 90 Church Street. Negotiations recommenced in mid-2002, and by October, New York state agreed to acquire the Farley Building from USPS for $230 million.

Originally planned as Moynihan Station’s primary occupant, Amtrak withdrew in 2004 citing budget limitations. State authorities then sought alternative partners and secured two key retail tenants by October of that year. In 2005, James Carpenter Design Associates and HOK presented a streamlined concourse design featuring skylights reminiscent of the original Penn Station, along with proposals for a hotel within the post office structure.

NJ Transit took over from Amtrak as the main tenant under an $818 million plan that allocated 300,000 square feet for rail operations, 850,000 square feet for retail space, and 250,000 square feet for postal functions. The Empire State Development Corporation selected Vornado Realty Trust and The Related Companies to oversee the retail components. This initiative was connected to the Access to the Region's Core project aimed at extending NJ Transit service beneath the Hudson River. The 14th Dalai Lama publicly endorsed Moynihan Station.

The state’s purchase of the Farley Post Office building in 2006 demonstrated a firm commitment to realizing Moynihan’s vision. Momentum built around an expanded proposal involving relocating Madison Square Garden westward to clear space for Vornado Realty’s planned office complex on its current site; however, by 2009, Cablevision decided to renovate the existing arena instead. In September of that year, following discussions involving Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor David Paterson, Amtrak agreed to rejoin as a prospective tenant with revised designs and an arrangement to share retail revenue.

Phase 1

Before receiving a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant in early 2010, federal and state sources had already secured $169 million in funding. This supported Phase 1 of the project, which had a budget of $267 million and was further supplemented by $83.4 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Phase 1 encompassed the fully designed expansion of the underground West End Concourse serving the Long Island Rail Road and included two new access points from Penn Station platforms through the Farley Building on Eighth Avenue. A groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction on October 18, 2010.

In May 2012, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey awarded a $270 million contract for Phase 1 work focused on expanding the concourse beneath Eighth Avenue. Skanska USA Civil Northeast was granted a $147.7 million contract to install stairs, escalators, and elevators within the concourse. The West End Concourse was initially targeted for completion in September 2016 but encountered delays due to last-minute enhancements involving digital information displays and other technology requirements imposed by New York state. Ultimately, it opened in June 2017.

Phase 2

The second phase centers on the construction of the new train hall housed within the fully refurbished Farley Building. In December 2011, Amtrak expressed concerns about potentially unaffordable operational expenses if relocated, resulting in a temporary halt to funding. To streamline oversight and financing, the building’s redevelopment authority was consolidated into the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

Originally projected to cost $1.5 billion, the initiative was reimagined in January 2016 by Governor Cuomo as an integrated Penn-Farley Post Office complex with an expanded budget of $3 billion. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) resumed design efforts on what was renamed Moynihan Train Hall. By September 2016, the estimated budget had increased to $1.6 billion, with Skanska AB appointed as the lead construction firm and retail development entrusted to The Related Companies alongside Vornado Realty. In June 2017, these entities entered into a 99-year lease agreement and committed $630 million toward the construction costs.

Public investment covered the remaining expenses, including $550 million from New York State and $420 million contributed by Amtrak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), PANYNJ, and a federal grant. Groundbreaking took place in August 2017, featuring restoration of the Farley Building’s landmarked facade spanning approximately 200,000 square feet.

Under the leadership of Moynihan Station Development Corporation president Michael Evans, project officials targeted completion by late 2020 despite financial pressures and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, Evans passed away in March 2020 amid these challenges. Nevertheless, Moynihan Train Hall was finalized on schedule by the end of that year.

Opening and further changes

The official opening ceremony was held on December 30, 2020, where New York Governor Andrew Cuomo described it as a "monumental accomplishment." Public access commenced January 1, 2021. By early 2022, numerous food hall vendors had launched operations, including a craft brewery located within Amtrak’s area and a branch of The Dead Rabbit pub. The hall also emerged as a favored gathering venue for K-pop dance groups.

On January 11, 2021, Cuomo proposed creating a connection between the High Line park and Moynihan Train Hall through a 1,200-foot extension running along 30th Street and Dyer Avenue toward Manhattan West. Initially unfunded with an estimated cost of $60 million, financing was secured by September 2021 with completion anticipated in early 2023. The Moynihan Connector officially opened on June 22, 2023.

Reception

In May 2022, the project earned the American Council of Engineering Companies Grand Conceptor Award recognizing it as that year’s most exceptional engineering achievement. The following month, Open House New York bestowed its 2022 Open City Award upon the Moynihan Train Hall Team—including primary client Empire State Development—in acknowledgment of their public-private partnership with Vornado Realty Trust, architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and key contractors such as WSP USA, Skanska USA, and Severud Associates.

However, Moynihan Train Hall has faced criticism regarding its limited availability of public seating; seating is confined to ticketed waiting zones while some travelers resort to sitting on floors where security personnel occasionally intervene. Officials defend these design choices as measures to enhance pedestrian flow, but detractors contend they represent hostile architecture aimed at discouraging homeless individuals. Following its inauguration, elected officials including U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called on MTA and Amtrak to increase seating capacity within the main hall. Additional critiques highlight inadequate prominent central signage and note that the project did not expand Penn Station’s track capacity.

See also

• Gateway Program (Northeast Corridor)
• Pennsylvania Tunnel and Terminal Railroad
• Transportation in New York City

External links

• Moynihan Station Development Corporation
• Moynihan Train Hall | Amtrak